Subject
Criminals -- England -- Fiction Books
Best books
E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
A Thief in the Night: Further adventures of A. J. Raffles, Cricketer and Cracksman
"A Thief in the Night: Further adventures of A. J. Raffles, Cricketer and…" by E. W. Hornung is a collection of short stories published in 1905. The third book in the Raffles series follows gentleman thief A. J. Raffles and his accomplice Bunny Manders through daring burglaries in late Victorian England. From depositing stolen silver at a bank to infiltrating a prison warden's home, the stories chronicle their criminal adventures while maintaining respectable appearances—until their reputations crumble and darker consequences emerge.
E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman
"Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman" by E. W. Hornung is a short story collection published in 1901. This second installment follows gentleman thief A. J. Raffles and his companion Bunny Manders after their reputations are destroyed. Raffles is presumed drowned, while Bunny emerges from prison struggling to survive. Their unexpected reunion launches them back into crime, but now as hardened criminals rather than respectable gentlemen. Eight connected stories trace their adventures through Victorian London, Italy, and ultimately to the Second Boer War.
E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
A Thief in the Night: A Book of Raffles' Adventures
"A Thief in the Night: A Book of Raffles' Adventures" by E. W. Hornung is a collection of short stories published in 1905. The third book featuring gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, it chronicles burglaries and close calls in late Victorian England, narrated by his accomplice Bunny Manders. The stories span different points in their criminal careers, from respectable gentlemen at the Albany to fugitives with ruined reputations, culminating in encounters with Scotland Yard and surprising revelations about Raffles's hidden acts of kindness.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Firm of Girdlestone
"The Firm of Girdlestone" by Arthur Conan Doyle is a novel first published in 1890. When a series of disastrous speculations bankrupts their respected business, John Girdlestone and his son Ezra turn to increasingly desperate schemes to save themselves. From diamond market manipulation to forced romance, their cynical plots spiral darker as they face financial ruin. When all else fails, murder becomes their final, sinister solution to reclaim their fortune.
E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
Mr. Justice Raffles
"Mr. Justice Raffles" by E. W. Hornung is a novel published in 1909. It features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles in his fourth and final adventure. This darker, full-length novel finds a cynical Raffles confronting Dan Levy, an unscrupulous moneylender who preys on wealthy young men through predatory loans. When Raffles takes it upon himself to teach Levy a lesson, he and his companion Bunny Manders become entangled in a dangerous game of blackmail, burglary, and ultimately murder.
Edgar Wallace
The Fellowship of the Frog
"The Fellowship of the Frog" by Edgar Wallace is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers around the enigmatic and sinister organization known as the Frogs, whose activities elicit public fear and intrigue, particularly in relation to a hardware merchant named James G. Bliss. The story unfolds in an atmosphere of suspense and tension as various characters navigate the complexities and perils associated with this secretive group. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Bliss, who suffers a violent attack, uttering the word "frog" before slipping into unconsciousness. As the narrative progresses, we learn about the Frogs—a collective characterized by lawlessness and a foreboding presence in society. The first chapter opens with Richard "Dick" Gordon, who has a chance encounter with a young woman named Ella Bennett at Maytree Cottage. Their meeting, centered around a broken-down car and the fetching of water, suggests a burgeoning connection between them. However, the atmosphere quickly shifts from charming to ominous, as Gordon’s ties to the justice system plunge him into a world fraught with danger from the Frogs and their violent actions, setting the stage for the unfolding mystery and intrigue.
Richard Marsh
A Master of Deception
"A Master of Deception" by Richard Marsh is a novel written in the early 20th century. It follows the story of Rodney Elmore, a young man whose life is marked by a web of deceit and moral conflict. As he navigates his relationships with several women and his manipulative uncle, themes of dishonesty, ambition, and familial ties unfold, suggesting a complex exploration of identity and integrity. The opening of the novel introduces Rodney Elmore as a young boy fascinated by a circus, setting the stage for his adventurous spirit. The narrative quickly chronicles his transition to adolescence, marked by small acts of theft and a developing charm that endears him to the women in his life. He experiences an invitation from his father’s brother, who presents conflicting feelings of familial loyalty against a backdrop of burgeoning moral dilemmas. As he grows older, the pressure of expectations—both from his deceased mother and his uncle—compounds his internal conflict, suggesting that much of his life will be spent balancing the truths he hides with the facades he builds.
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